Film Review: Ghost Ship

"The Ghost Ship" *** (out of ****)

"The Ghost Ship" was the second film producer Val Lewton and director Mark Robson worked together on. After Jacques Tourneur was promoted to "A" list films at RKO studios, Lewton assigned his editor, Robson to direct films. Their first collaboration was "The Seventh Victim".

The absence of Tourneur is felt in "The Ghost Ship". With only one other film behind him Robson was still green and didn't quite know how to create atmosphere the way Tourneur did. Some have suggested Val Lewton was really the man in charge of these films, but, I think "The Ghost Ship" proves these claims wrong.

Robson would become a successful director but his work here is second-rate. He doesn't take advantage of the picture's setting. A creepy ocean ship surrounded by the mist. Robson would eventually direct "Earthquake", "Von Ryan's Express" with Frank Sinatra and go on to earn two Academy Award nominations for "The Inn of the Sixth Happiness" and "Peyton's Place", a true masterpiece, which will make my "Masterpiece Film Series". But here he was still learning the ropes. Too bad. The film had great potential.

A young seaman, Tom Merriam (Russell Wade) is going on his first voyage as an officier. The ship is being run by Captain Stone (Richard Dix). He kind older gentleman who tells Tom he reminds him of himself when he was young. Tom says the captain is the first older person to treat him as a friend, an equal.

But soon strange things start happening on deck. Before they take off a sailor is found dead, to which the captain merely brushes it aside. Another sailor is killed in a freak accident, only after insulting the captain.

It doesn't take Tom long to suspect it is Captain Stone who is behind these murders. The captain always speaks of authority. This is his ship, everyone will do as he says. He has certain rights over their lives he tells Tom. Everyone on board must learn to respect authority. To never question his judgement. But Tom does, and soon starts to fear for his life.

"The Ghost Ship" lacks in the departments you might suspect a "B" film to lack in. The performances across the board are ineffective. Russell Wade as our young hero doesn't make the screen presence to have the audience connect with him. He delivers his lines blandly. He has no commanding lead in his performance. Imagine a better actor in the lead. Say Dana Andrews or a young Burt Lancaster. Of course then it wouldn't be a "B" picture.

Richard Dix is given top billing. Dix was actually a famous actor. His work goes back to the silent days of cinema. He may be best known by filmbuffs for his role in the 1931 best picture Oscar winner "Cimarron", the first western to ever win the award. Though he appeared in several other films for RKO studios. My hunch is Dix must have fallen on hard times to actually accept a role in this picture. He gives a campy performance. It may be memorable to some viewers but it is memorable for all the wrong reasons. You cannot convince me Dix gives a performance which represents true evil.

The final problem with the movie is the screenplay. It was based on a story by Leo Mittler (a German director) and written by Donald Henderson Clarke, who has written nothing important to speak of. The dialogue doesn't sound realistic. The characters don't seem to speak the way real people speak.

I also wondered about the film's message. Never question authority. The film was made in 1943, American was at war. Was the film trying to tell people have blind faith in your leaders? Or is it don't trust your leaders? Learn to question authority since the captain is presented as the villain.

Still though I am recommending "The Ghost Ship". Why? Though Robson doesn't milk the picture's atmosphere for all its worth. He does in fairness create suspense. A scene dealing with a giant hook anchor which swings across the ship, nearly injuring all the men, works. A scene near the end between the captain and one of the sailors, a mute (Skelton Knaggs) who get into a knife fight actually reminds me of Hitchcock. The two men battle for their lives while on the deck we hear the other sailors singing a happy song. It is the kind of dark humor Hitchcock excels at.

This lends itself to another problem with the film. The character of the mute, Finn. We hear his thoughts, he predicts danger will come aboard the ship. He is presented as a mythical, prophet figure yet the film doesn't do anything with him. At first the viewer suspects he will play a big role in the film only to disappear for huge chunks of it. What exactly is his purpose on the film?

As you can probably tell "The Ghost Ship" is not my favorite film produced by Val Lewton. Still the film has simple pleasures. There is potential there. I like the way Robson sets up some sequences and liked the idea behind the film. While much if it doesn't gel it is still a light diversion.

There was a film made in 2002 which had the same title. I never saw that film but I wonder if it is a remake of this. This film was actually out of circulation for 50 years after some legal problems. It appears there was another film set in production with a similar story. The writers of that film thought Lewton stole their idea. When the case went to court Lewton lost the case. I might be fun to watch this film and the 2002 film back to back.